Electromagnetic plunger pumps



L. C. PARKER sept. 19, 1961 ELECTROMAGNETIC PLUNGER PUMPS Filed Sept. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 19, 1961 L. c. PARKER 3,000,321

ELECTROMAGNETIC PLUNGER PUMPS Filed Sept. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN T OR.

States Patent 0 3,000,321 ELECTROMAGNETIC PLUNGER PUMPS Leland C. Parker, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 841,794 2 Claims. (Cl. 103-53) This invention relates to pumps and more particularly to electromagnetic plunger pumps suitable for supplying liquid fuel to internal combustion engines.

An object of the present invention is to provide an effective, reliable and low-cost pump which may be installed adjacent a source of liquid supply such as a vehicle gasoline tank for the purpose of placing that liquid under a predetermined pressure for the avoidance of vapor lock and other diculties often encountered in the use of conventional pumps.

A feature of the present invention is an electromagnetically driven pump having a solenoid plunger cooperating with a solenoid coil and effective in actuating a make-and-break arrangement for energizing the coil intermittently. Another feature of the invention is a pump having three axially aligned chambers with a solenoid coil in the iirst or intermediate chamber, a filter in'the second or end inlet port chamber and ow modulator means in the third or end outlet port chamber, the second or inlet port chamber and the thirdor outlet port chamber being connected by a valve controlled passage defined in a magnetic plunger mounted for sliding motion in the magnetic eld of the coil.

These and other important features of the invention will now be described in detail in the specification and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In-the drawings:

. FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through an electromagnetic pump and its support, the pump being one embodiment of the present invention and the section being along the line 1-1 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the pump shown in FIGURE 1, portions being taken in section better to illustrate the construction;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuit involved and the rectangle enclosing the elements mounted on the pump; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a valve element utilized in the structure of FIGURE l.

In FIGURE 1, a ange member 10 is shown having a horizontal portion 12 from which the electromagnetic pump 14 is supported. In an automobile, the pump 14 and also the support 10 Ymay be located adjacent the gasoline tank as will be understood. Bolts may be received in openings 15 of the member 10 for holding the latter on the car frame.

The pump 14 comprises a casing having two end castings 16 and 18 with an intermediate cylindrical and sheet metal casing 20. Two gaskets 22 and 24 are interposed between the ends of the cylindrical casing 20 and the end castings 16 and 18 to constitute a tight closure. The complete casing of the pump 14 is held in position on the support 10 by means of a bolt arrangement 24 and a suitable bail 26, the latter passing down the sides and under the bottom casting 16 of the pump. Although not shown in the drawings, it will be understood that the upper ends of the bail 26 are hooked into a plate 27 forming a part of the bolt arrangement 24.

The interior of the casing is divided into three coaxial chambers by transverse inner partitions 28 and 30. 'I'hese are rmly located with relation to the casing 20 by welding as at 32 and 34. The three chambers in the pump casing constitute an inlet port chamber 34, an outlet port chamber 36 and an intermediate or solenoid coil chamber 38. A conduit connection 40 is provided for admitting fuel to the inlet port chamber 34 and an outlet conduit connection 42 is provided for discharging uid from the outlet port chamber 36. The connection 40 leads from a supply of fuel which in this case is a gasoline tank and the connection 42 is adapted to be connected to the carburetor or injector system of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

The two partitions 28 and 30 are bored tightly to receive a non-magnetic cylinder 44 which is fixed in position and extends `through the coil chamber 38 and terminates in each of the two end chambers 34 and 36. This cylinder may conveniently be made of brass. Fixed to the lower end of the cylinder 44 is a port member 46 tightly held within the cylinder 44 and bearing an opening 48 for the admission of lluid from the chamber 34 to the cylinder 44. The port member 46 also is recessed in order to deiine a downwardly facing annular shoulder 50. A ring 52 is fixed Within the end of the port member 46 loosely to retain a circular valve mem'- ber 54 within the port member. This valve member is shown in FIGURE 4 as being circular and having three equally spaced tabs 55 extending upwardly from its periphery. The distance between the ring 52 and the shoulder 50 slightly exceeds the height of the tabs 55 and the diameter of the valve element 54 is slightly less than the diameter of the recess in the port member 46. The dimensions of these parts are such as to permit some motion of the valve member in both the horizontal and the vertical directions. Surrounding the tube 44 and the port member 46 within the port chamber 34 is an inverted cup 56 having an annular series of openings 58 formed in its wall. These openings are fitted with screens or lter material 60 to traverse the path of iluid leading `from the connection 40 to the opening through the ring 52 as will be understood.

Located within the outlet port chamber 36 is an annulus 62 of spongy distortionable material. This material is resilient and compressible because of its con# tinuous pore structure when subjected to iluid pressure and is therefore adapted to serve as a flow modulator. A variety of elastomeric materials are available for this purpose. The material chosen must be resistant to whatever liquid is to be handled by the pump. The dimensions of the annulus 62 must be such as not to impede the ow of iluid through the chamber 36 to the connection 42 as will be understood. The ability to regain shape and volume after being subjected to a surge in iiuid pressure is shared by such suitable elastomers as synthetic sponge rubber. The elastomer chosen must not absorb either gas or liquid.

A plunger 64 is slidably mounted in the cylinderf44 and denes a passage 66 which connects the two end chambers 34 and 36 of the pump. The upper end of the plunger is such as to bear a slanted surface 68 and a one-way nylon valve member 70 of at form is pivoted at 72 to the plunger 64 for control of flow through the passage 66. The exact method of pivoting the valve member 70 on the plunger is not illustrated but may obviously be undertaken in various ways. Trunnions may be formed integrally with the nylon valve member 70 and journaled in bores formed on the plunger. The lower end of the plunger is reduced in diameter as at 74 for retention of one end of a coil spring 76. The other end of the spring 76 is received on the top of the port member 46. This spring is arranged to urge the plunger 64 upwardly and towards the outlet port chamber 36. .A portion of the upper end of the brass cylinder 44 is enlarged as at 80 to give a free sliding action to the plunger.

3 -:Phe lower end of the plunger terminates intermediate the height of the coil chamber 38 when the plungeris urged to its upper position by virtue of the loading of the Spring 76- A*V solenoid 82 surrounds the cylinder 44 and is lo'- cated within't'he coil chamber 38. It is heldtiglitly in its Aaxial .position by virtue offa 'spring washer 84 inserted between the partition 30 and an end plate of Vthe coil.

An opening i'86 of substantially circular contour iis formed in the lcasing-20 adjacent the side ofthe coil 82. rIlfhe casing is also slotted as at88 nd89 on'a horizontal plane at opposite Vsides ofthe opening '816. A portion yof the casing is bent outwardly as shown Vin FIGURE 2 `and `to form aV supporting flange 90. A U-shaped spring bracket 92 is Vfixed to the flange 90 and vsupports 'a condenser94. The``ange90 also supports a bracketl9'6 for holding two leaf Vsprings 98 dand 100 in parallel and insulated relation. VAA screw 97 holds the brackets 92 and 96 to the Vflange 90. Normally closed contacts 102 and rv'4 are Xed tothe leaf springs 98 and 100 respectively. terminal plate 106 is held in contact with 'the leaf spring 100 Vand (dielectric washers 108 are utilized to provide'the vinsulation between the leaf springs 98 and '100. The opposite Yendsfof a strap 110 'are held together, by 'means of va bolt 112 to hold fa subcasing 114 'to the Vlside of the Vpump casing 20. This 'subcasing tightly encloses 1'the "condenser 94 and the yrnalie-and-break arrangement constituted bythe contacts and leaf springs. A disc-like magnetic armature 116 is fixed to and supported by the vend fof the leaf spring 98 and is in 'registry with the opening 8 6 lof the casing `fo`r A'movement l`therein toward and Pafay"from the coil 82.

VFIGURE 3 shows the condenser 94 connected across the contacts 102 and 104 conventionally to laid 'and jspiced Vthe 'collapseof the magneticeld'of the coil 82 'andto prevent sparking. The 'damping 'or timel delay circuit Yincludes afresistance 11 l Y Y In FIGURE 1, the plunger '64 is shown in an upper position atthe'ehd of Vapuroping stroke as brought about jb'ythe eipans'ionof the spring ('76. If current is supplied V'fo'th'e'fcoil 82 froina battery 120 by closure of a switch V122, current will flow through the normally closed con'- y'tacts 102 /andv104 to `th`e ground line 124 to complete the circuit. The coil `82 thus being energized will serve to draw'the plunger 64 downwardly. This will increase the "intensity of the uX across Vtheopenin'g 86 when the 'plunger-'is at or near'the bottom of its stroke'and thereby fdraw the armature 116 towards the coil with consequent v'flexing of the leaf spring 98 and opening ofY the 'contacts 1102 and 104 and breaking of the circuit, Thel coil is 'th'ereby deener'gize'd and the spring 76 will again force `'the '.plunger 64 upwards. Any Huid supplied by the connection 40 and flowing through the `strainer for Vlter within the chamber 34`will be caused'to ow upwardly by the valve member 54 and b'e forced by action of the spring VV76 Von the plunger to Vflow upwardly through the Vchamber 36 and out by Way of the connection 42. When the .plunger reaches its upper position, the circuit will again "4 be established and the cycle of the pump repeated. During the nduiv'n stroke ofthe plunger, lthe valve 2mernbe1"54 closes Iand traps fluid which will open the valve 70. During the up-stroke, the valve will be closed and the valve member 54 will be raised toits open position.

I claim: A

V1. An Velectromagnetic pump comprising -a 'casing hav- 'ing'two inner partitions dividing'the interior of said casing into an inlet port chamber and an outlet portch'amber at opposite ends of the casing, -a magnetic coil chamber being defined between said Vtwo partitions, a nonmagnetic cylinder within said casing, a cylindrical magnetic plunger slidable in'said cylinder, a passage extending ythrough said plunger 'and connecting 'said inlet port chamber 'and outlet port chamber, pressure-actuated one-way valve means carried by said plunger "and controlling said passage, fsaid valve means including aflat valve'member'surroundedby said outlet port chamber and inclined with respect tothfe axis of said plunger, a solenoid coil located Vin said'coil chamber 'and surrounding said nonmagnetic ycylinder and 'effective upon being energized to pullsaid 'plunger toward said inlet port chamber, a spring urging Vsaid plunger towards Vsaid outlet port chamber, `a subcasing attached to the outsid'ewall of s'aid casing, an opening'through the wall lofthe latter andA 'connecting'the interior ofsaid subcasing Vwith said coil chamber, 'a magnetic armature regis,- teringwith and `movable in saidl opening, normally'clos'ed contactscontrolled bythe position of 'said armature, land a circuit leading through 'said contacts and Asaid coil yfor vinternlitte'ntly energizing vthe latter and Athereby attract said armature and open'said contacts. u

`2. electromagnetic pump 'comprisinga casingwith inlet port chamber and Van outlet port 'chamberV fot vopposite"ends ofthecasing, "a nonmagnetic cylinderlwi'tliin said casing, a cylindrical magnetic plunger slidablein said cylinder, a passage extending through said plunger and connecting said chambers, pressure-actuatedvalve means carried by said plunger and controlling said passage, "a solenoid coil between said chambers and coaxial with the wallsY of said `casing and cylinder and effective upon being energized to pull said plunger in one direction to position l*the latter fora subsequent discharge stroke, la springuriging 'said plunger in the opposite direction Vto complete -la discharge stroke, an opening in the wall of said casing in registry with vs'aid coil, a -nagnetic armature outside said casing and in registry with -said opening to be attracted by said coil Iwhen the latter is energized, contacts controlled bysaid Yarmature and 'normally closed when said coil is not energized, and Va circuit leading through said contacts `and solenoid coil for intermittently energiz- 'ing'the said solenoid coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

